A chair made by people who make $30 per month is impossible to fix at a 'fair' price. The labour content of the manufacturing process is probably only about $3!

If it is only 'half broken' then the value of the repair would be $1.50.... offer that to someone with the right skills and the tools to do the job and you'll see them treat you like an idiot!

There are lots of people out there with skills, but the good ones are already busy!

Your idea probably won't find them, as they are "out the back in the shed" fixing their own broken stuff, and adding value to their own life.
(speaking as a guy, who has tools, skills, a shed, and my kids believe I can fix almost anything...)

Thought to keep in mind, if you get two of the same item that is broken, and the faulty part is different, then you can build one working one. If the faulty part is the same, you may have found a market for fixing that thing, by finding a source of that part!

Yes!

Finally a well-thought-out subset of the "workplace auction" website. It has the advantage of customers wanting to find the service.

How does it make money, or is it a public service? People who are looking for repairs often don't have a lot of money and won't want to pay up-front. Maybe people who want to do the work will pay a little "bite" of whatever they make in order to stay registered.

You'll also need a way to rate value and effectiveness of various service providers. Tricky since people will _all_ want the #1 guy in their particular area. (Consumers are not really rational.)

Certainly not a public service. I would expect demand to come from people without DIY skills (like me). As for what to charge and whether or not people will pay, it would be all about getting the balance right between the cost of a replacement and that of repair. It would be up to the people bidding for work to offer the customer a reasonable price but one that still makes it worthwhile. When I first thought of this idea, it occured to me that the site could provide information on cost of replacement for each posted item - to serve as a guide for bidders.

...very enticing for innovative recycling culture of the Far East...
where repairmen and women comes like mushrooms in every corner...

but i cant imagine how this will work online in the paradigm of physical repair... this sounds like a technical advisory or support...even if the internet will be the medium..how will F&H be transacted? Well if its more of software repairs its will be logical but the rest needs online instant "operation" inlcuding hit and misses like a classic hollywood scene where an accidental hero will diffuse a bomb by cutting a colored wire. =)

A "mobile" community controlled help repair services seems more feasible.

Willcom, I have a half-started business with some similar objectives - Virtual Warehouse. Have been neglecting it lately but I like the idea of sharing repair knowledge, parts, and keeping stuff out of the landfill.

Like your angle of the out-of-warranty items.

I can see room for great mashup with Goolge Maps or Live Maps, view objects or work items on a map and bid for them.

Kind regards

Mikael